Good excuse not enough to spare man 24-hour prohibition

FALKLAND - Police decided to have a Falkland man's car towed and to place him under a 24-hour prohibition following a series of claims that didn't add up.

An RCMP member working the rural area pulled into the Falkland Petro Canada gas station about 10:05 Nov. 28 and noticed the validation sticker on a parked car had expired in May. The officer then began a motor vehicle check and found out the insurance was also expired. Not long after, the officer saw the car leave the gas station and start south toward Vernon, prompting a traffic stop.

The driver, 45, was known to the officer, and said he was on his way to Vernon Jubilee Hospital for medical reasons and didn't have anyone to drive him. As the officer listened to the man's story, he noticed the smell of marijuana coming from the vehicle and was told the man had a licence for medical marijuana.

"The driver showed signs of impairment," Vernon RCMP spokesperson Gord Molendyk says, "and indicated he had smoked a joint severel hours prior. The officer asked to see the medical licence. Unfortunately for this man his license had expired as well."

The driver was told he could be charged for possession of marijuana and 66.5 grams in two ziplock bags were seized on the spot. The driver was issued a 24-hour prohibition and a ticket for no insurance. The vehicle was towed. It's not known if the man went to the hospital.

To contact the reporter for this story, email Charlotte Helston at chelston@infotelnews.ca, call (250)309-5230 or tweet @charhelston.

OPINION Editor, This is a busy time of year, but I find it’s also a time of reflection, particularly as January marks the end of my two-year term as Chair and my 10 years serving on the Board of Interior